Thursday, March 28, 2013

A Big Announcement!

One year ago in March, everything changed. The week happened something like this:

Sunday: My husband had recently resigned from his job to pursue writing full-time.

Wednesday: I was called into a meeting at work. My co-workers and I joked, "This is probably the day we'll lose our jobs." We gathered into a crowded, makeshift conference room on the first floor. The meeting was no longer than 5 minutes, with one announcement. Yep, we were all probably losing our jobs.

Friday: I was eagerly prepping for a Indy Modern Quilt Guld retreat at my house. Cleaning, sorting the door prizes (my favorite part!), cooking a bit. In between preparations, I received a voicemail which changed everything. "Lindsay, we've been trying to reach you. Give me a call, because we want to move forward with your book proposal!"

I am honored, humbled and so very grateful to announce that I wrote a book!

Modern Bee: 13 Quilts to Make with Friends, will release October 1, 2013 with Stash Books/C&T Publishing. For me, this project marries some of my favorite things: modern quilting, community and celebrating the work of creative individuals! Quilting TOGETHER. Creative oneness. Coming together to do something that none of us could do on our own.

Someday soon, I'll share more about the process of putting this book together. I didn't do it alone, but with the help of some very talented contributors!

I've set up a little website so you can learn more about the book, the amazing quilters and some HUGE news that I cannot wait to share. The book is also available for pre-sale on Amazon!

Giveaway!

Let's celebrate with a giveaway! Leave any old comment on this post (you can let me know if you've ever quilted with a bee) and I'll choose one random winner to receive a FQ bundle of Textures by Angela Walters for Art Gallery Fabrics.

Giveaway open in the U.S. and ends Wednesday, 4/3! Giveaway closed. Congrats to #45, Lisa! Second winner chosen: #178: Elaine!

Can't wait for your book. I have quilted with a few bees (local and on-line) since I took up quilting again this January after about 30 years away. Back then everything with so traditional and I now recognize I'm really a modern quilter. Congratulations on the book.

P.S. When I read the closing date for the give away I thought, "Cool, that's my birthday." And then I was thinking, "That's a long time away... a long time to have a give away open." But then it hit me, that's just next week! Ah!

Congratulations on your book. I'm not sure if what my 3 sisters & I do would be called a "bee". We live in 4 different states, but we've made 2 quilts for my father, done several round robins, a row robin, block exchanges and this year a mystery quilt. Thanks.

Congratulations on your new book!Quilting is still very new to me. Most of my sewing has been for home dec and practical clothing alterations. I guess I've been a loner. So, no, I haven't experience a Quilting Bee. Your book should give me some insights as well as project inspirations.Thank you, Lindsay, for the opportunity to win a FQ Bundle of "Textures". The fabric looks both refreshing and soothing.

Hi! Congratulations!! A dream come true :) God is so good with his timing isn't he :) I have never been in a quilting bee but it sounds like a blast! May have to check into it and start one where i live.

I have never quilted with a Bee before, but would love to give it a shot. I've actually never done a pieced quilt before;). I have a long way to go still! I'm SO excited for you and the rest of the designers involved with this book. It looks fabulous! Congratulations!! xo

I have never participated in a quilting bee. I work full time, so the opportunity has never presented itself. Congratulations on the new book, and I hope it will lead to opening many other doors in your life. Prayers to you and your family, on everything that life brings!

Last week, my girlfriend spent 5 days / 4 nights in a charming cabin in Nevada City, CA, the sole purpose of which was to quilt. Our car was loaded with a cutting table, design wall, mats, rulers, sewing machines, fabric, food and wine. Does that count as a Bee? I say yes!! BTW, I was able to finish 6 tops that were in various stages of completion and have a 7th almost done. I say yay for me!! Now, on to the quilting of the tops.

Wow! The book looks great. Congratulations! (And I remember having one of those "meetings" where we were all "separated from the company." My quip was that rather than be "separated" I wanted a divorce...with alimony!)

Wow!! Congratulations on your book!! I am so happy for you. Wow, I would love to be a part of a book someday - I am just so happy for you!! and... no I've never been part of a bee. I was stung by them a few times... :)

This is awesome! I am so happy for you on your book! And I am sure we, meaning your followers will be happy with it too. Yes I have been part of a few bee's and to tell you the truth I think it is another way to enjoy the art we all love to share which is quilting...Take care and love the fabrics..

Congrats on the book! Sounds like it will be packed with goodies :-). I haven't ever been part of a bee, but it's something that I'm looking forward to this next year as both of my kiddos will be in school.

Congratulations on your book and thank you for the opportunity to win. I wish I could join every bee I see, sadly, I just participate in spirit rather than actually completing the project. Maybe soon I can jump in and complete rather than just watch from the sidelines.

Congratulations on your book! I've never participated in a formal bee, but I have contributed blocks for quilts of valor. I would love to try one though. Your book looks interesting and I will definitely be looking forward to seeing more of it. Thanks for the chance to win the lovely fabric.

Love the book. When I was 4/5 I would sit under the quilt that my grandmother's quilting bee was quilting and play. I remember looking up and seeing the hand under the quilt guiding the stitches and hearing the buzz of women sharing stories and talking about being mothers and wives and single women too. many hands made quick work of that quilting. MaryDwww.stitchesonmyneedle.blogspot.com

I'm the member of a bee that's currently making a memorial quilt for the husband of a member. It's a way for us to get together and remember a man we all loved and at the same time support our friend who has lost the love of her life. We're all pretty excited about this project, while mourning our friend. Pretty complicated, huh? Thanks for the getaway.

Wow, lots of ups and downs right now for you. I never have been to a quilting bee but I would love it. Maybe I need to get something started in smalltown USA. Thank you for a chance to win the fabric! Great colors! karen608 at yahoo dot com

Well you know I'm not in the US, but congrats again! I've been in 4 bees with members around the world, and I can honestly say that in 2 of them I've made friends for life, and some very special quilts. I look forward to reading more about it :o)

Congratulations on your book. I was fortunate enough to be asked to make two quilts for someone writing a book and I know my excitement was nothing compared to the writer and his family. Enjoy your good fortune. I have not really participated in any bees.

Hi, You,ve certainly been on a rollercoaster ltely. Congrats on your book. love the name and great subject. No i don't belong to bee bu 2 quilting guilds one of which is small but very active and fun loving. Your give away looks yummy,perfect for making a modern quilt.hugs

I would love to be part of a bee, or guild, or have any nearby quilting friends for that matter. Unfortunately, I live in a very small village of about 200 ppl in Ohio. Plus I'm kinda young for a quilter I think because none of my friends quilt and they think I'm silly I think, but they love my quilts! Hopefully someday soon I can have some sewing buddies in real life instead of cyber sewing buds :)

Congrats on your book! How exciting!And yes, I'm part of a do Good Stitches bee - it's been lots of fun. But I think next I'd like to be part of a bee where I actually get to keep the quilt - donating them is sometimes hard and sad!

I can't wait to get a hold of your book! I bookmarked it so I remember to watch out for it. Congrats! And thanks for the chance to win. I'm DROOLING (not literally but almost) and gasping over those fabrics! I need them!! ;)

I just discovered your blog through the blog hop and so far am LOVING everything I see!! I am going to have to order your book! I think it would be fun to start a project with my quilty friends (and coworkers). I look forward to following you!!Great job on your new book!!

Congrats! It's amazing how life always works itself out! I've never quilted with a bee but I've been looking into it recently and your book would be most wonderful! Im headed right to the new website now!

Congrats! I've been sewing for a year/quilting 10 months and I haven't been part of a Bee yet. My husband is being PCSed back to Fort Hood, TX (where my family is) and I'm hoping I will have more time to quilt, do a Bee, join a quilt guild, and learn lots more! My mom has already told me she's stealing my daughter from time to time. lol thanks for the chance to win! mrs(dot)hbraun(at)gmail(dot)com

I am fortunate to belong to a quilting bee. We call ourselves the Redbird Bee (a tribute to St. Louis Cardinals!). It is comprised of 12 members. We are in our second year and are having so much fun learning and making blocks for one another.

I have never done a bee, I have only been a member of our modern quilt guild for about a year. But did just finish a round robin with them and that was a blast. Thanks for the giveaway! I love Angela's fabric.

First off congratulations and secondly wow that's a lot of stuff to happen in one week. I am not a part of a bee nor have I been in one, maybe in the future as I get better at this sewing stuff, I just started a few months ago.

never quilted in a bee, but classes, with friends at my home on the back porch, online at BOM's, I do enjoy making projects and have recently taken a huge interest in modern quilting and am working toward my own projects! Good luck with your book and quests!

I am just now getting into modern quilting and I am obsessed:) What a great bundle to add to my stash - should I win this wonderful giveaway! Thanks for the chance Lindsay! I have been in a bee called Tuesday Threaders - but moved and haven't been able to find another to join. Can't wait until your beautiful book is available.

Congratulations on your book! I can't wait to read it! Is 2 people a bee? My mom and I quilt together and I'm actively trying to convert my daughter to quilting! Wouldn't that be cool?...3 generations.

That is awesome! Good for you! Looking forward to checking out your book! I've never done a bee before, but wouldn't pass it up if ever put to the challenge! Would LOVE to win! Thank you for the chance!

Some people say it is God's plan, some people say it is fate.... whatever your beliefs, your confidence in yourself and in your ability to accomplish this has made your dream a reality. Congratulations!

Congratulations on your book. I love modern quilting since it seems to only have the boundaries my mind places on it. It's fun to imagine and start sewing. Our quilt shop has a modern quilting group which meets monthly.

Congratulations ont he book. Cannot wait to get my hands on it.... I am still relatively new to quilting . But hae sewn my entire life. I moved there to this small town that has no fabric shops or quilt shops. And no sewers are quilters besides my sister whom I have met. So I have been following blogs and learning about all this quilting stuff. Still haven't quiet figured out what a bee is or how it works. But always see posts about bee blocks. Would love to learn more.

Wow! This is awesome news! I've never quilted with a bee before, but I've been thinking about it more and more lately. Maybe in a few months I will have talked myself (and my husband) into it enough to take the plunge!

Wow congrats on your book - it looks fab! I have been in 4 bee's - 2 are still in progress though I have never quilting a quilt in a bee - just the blocks pieced and mailed to each other. Thanks for the chance!!